Updated: Feb 29
Yellowstone in the winter is just breath taking and that’s not from the freezing temperatures you endure, but rather from the beautiful snow-covered landscapes of trees, plains, rivers, mountains, canyons, thermal springs, and wildlife. To truly experience its magical beauty, without crowds, you need to visit during the winter!
I recently returned from my trip to Montana where I was fortunate enough to work again with the amazing team at Warriors & Quiet Waters (WQW). Thanks so much for having me back!
The purpose of this trip was to teach photography to three WQW alumni, immersing them into the world of photography during the “Photography Experience” workshop. Over the week the students, (who never held a camera), were given the opportunity to learn portraiture (studio), landscape & wildlife (Yellowstone), and photojournalism (girls hockey) by former combat photographers Russell Klika, Mike MacLeod, and myself along with commercial/adventure photographer, veteran Ben Altenes. Our team leads were Kelly King and Harry Miller who provided critical support over the week giving us tips and examples from their own work with wildlife photography and landscape photography.
The week was full of laughs and learning, mistakes, and more learning, but to see the incredible photography that was being created, yes, "I said created, not just captured", was awesome! Part of the week we had two days in Yellowstone, and it was fun to hear and watch the students on the first day walking around confident, shooting thinking they are nailing it only to get back and look at their imagery and see they didn’t. The second day proved to be an inspirational day as the students eagerly engaged more with the mentors soaking in their previous night’s critique and creating some magnificent work. When you see that lightbulb click on, "I am like a kid in a candy store, let's get out and get more"!
I am extremely proud and honored to have worked with you Nick Kozeniesky, Blaine Cole, and Cal Brierley! Keep creating, can’t wait to see the world through your eyes!
Here is a look at my take on Yellowstone, “The Winter Wonderland”. I have included a map of the park where you can see our routes and where we saw some animals. Not know for my landscape and wildlife, I am pretty proud of my first waterfall photo I created. I hope you enjoy!
Big thanks to our guide Alice Owsley for putting up with us and keeping us on schedule for our visit to Yellowstone National Park. A little fun fact about, Alice is that she is also one of the best fishing guides in the area and regularly guides for the all-female and caregiver Fishing Experiences at WQW.
WQW:
WQW currently offers many unique program models to support post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones. They bring Warriors to their ranch in southwestern Montana, providing a safe, secure environment – created by volunteers, guides, and other veterans – that feels like home. Here, Warriors find space to make meaning of their service and discover what a purposeful life means to them. They foster the kind of community that becomes a family.
Warriors and their loved ones learn fulfilling new skills like fly fishing, archery elk hunting, and backcountry skills so they can tap into the healing benefits of these activities for life.
A Warrior’s journey is never over, and these programs encourage Warriors and their loved ones to grow beyond the trauma of war, realize their potential, and chart a path toward a thriving, resilient life.
What are you waiting for… If you’re a veteran, you need to apply here!
What our week was like! Thanks Ben Athens for your mad skills and memories with this video!